South Sudan

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Development and Peace has stood by the people of South Sudan since before the country’s independence in 2011. During that time, Development and Peace supported several appeals made by Sudanaid (Caritas Sudan) to help communities cope with food shortages in times of crisis.

We also prioritized peacebuilding efforts in the lead-up to the referendum for independence and the transition to a new country through awareness activities to encourage peace and tolerance, as well as emergency preparations in case of the outbreak of violence.

After independence, we supported the newly formed Caritas South Sudan in becoming operational and partnered with them to provide humanitarian aid to over 27,000 households searching for a new beginning, as people displaced by years of fighting between Sudan and South Sudan began to return to their homeland.

Our current focus is responding to the growing needs of those affected by ongoing conflict and food insecurity in the country. We have been working with the Society of Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI) and Caritas South Sudan in providing food, water, shelter, health care, psychosocial services and access to education.

Citizens also need to be supported in the long-term goals of achieving peace, reconciliation, democracy and sustainable development and as conditions permit, we will work with local organizations in forwarding these objectives.

“The DMI Sisters helped the twins by providing powdered milk and nutritious food twice per month. They also helped me with my other children by giving soap, clothes, and food. It has been a great support for us.”Mary Nyatwya Yoal, a mother of four who adopted twins orphaned by the death of their mother in childbirth and the disappearance of their father in the conflict.

The issues we work on to build justice:

South Sudan is the world’s newest country, but its creation came after years of fighting between rebel groups and Sudanese forces caused by ethnic and religious tensions. In 2005, a peace treaty was signed between the two parties allowing for a referendum on independence for South Sudan. In 2010, the population in the South voted overwhelmingly in favour of separating from Sudan and the new nation of South Sudan was created in July 2011.

Although the initial transition was relatively peaceful, South Sudan has struggled to coalesce into a peaceful and democratic society where sustainable development can take place and the population can live in security.

Years of brutality haunt the population, and violence continues to erupt in various parts of the country. A power struggle between various political factions led to a two-year bloody civil war from 2013-2015 that came to a halt with a peace agreement was signed in August 2015. Renewed fighting in July 2016, however, has placed this peace agreement in jeopardy.

The civilian population has suffered enormously from the civil war. Thousands of people have been killed, more than 2.5 million people have been displaced and close to 5 million are living with the threat of food insecurity.

Development and Peace is joining its partner Kairos and a number of other organizations in welcoming in Canada two peacebuilders from South Sudan in the context of an awareness-raising tour about combating violence against...

Development and Peace – Caritas Canada is profoundly concerned about the famine in South Sudan, and the humanitarian crises in Somalia, Yemen, and Nigeria. The situation is also very troubling in certain neighbouring countries...

Violent clashes in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, have left 300 dead, and have displaced at least 35,000 people, who are taking refuge in UN camps and compounds, church grounds and the forest. Although a fragile ceasefire remains in place, it is feared that fighting could resume at any moment.

The current conflict and food crisis in South Sudan has been described as the worst in the world by the United Nations. Caritas Internationalis (CI) launched an appeal to its members worldwide to support emergency relief programs in the country.

It should be a day of celebration in South Sudan today. July 9th marks the third anniversary of the country’s hard-fought independence. Instead, the population lives amidst conflict and terror, the threat of hunger and disease looming large.

Since becoming its own nation in 2011, South Sudan has struggled to establish a society of peace and democracy. Lingering tensions that exist between various armed political and ethnic groups, which pre-date the creation of the country, were re-ignited in December 2013, when clashes erupted in the capital Juba. Since then, violence has spread to other parts of the country.